Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-06-01
WHICH WILL HE MARRY?

i Mehitable Bentley, severe spinster oil
fifty, arrayed in habiliments of sombre
black, sat by the window, over which the pur.
pleplumes of a lilac nodded saucily, watching
for the stage to make its appearance over
the brow of the hill. In it were to come
from the city her brothers two daughters,
Rachel and Celia. Later, from arf opposite
direction, the daughter of a deceased sister
was expected.
She had sent them an invitation week
ago, and as she was a very wealthy woman,
although residing in small country village
alone with her birds, cats, and two servants,
she had every reason to believe that they
would be prompt in obeying her behest, es-
pecially as she had given each one a hint as
to her motive for sending for them at this
particular season of the year.
She was not patient woman and as the
tall old clock in the hall solemnly tolled out
IN its deep, sonorous voice the hour of four,
she arose, and dropping her knitting work,
which had been lying in her lap on the
floor, unmindful that Tabby, her favorite
cat, was sending the ball of yarn over the
carpet, she went out into the hall, and
lshading her dim eyes with one nervous hand
glanced up the road. A moving something
was visible. She recognized it as the rumb-
ling old vehicle that carried the mail and
passengers to and from Blackberryvlle, the
inappropriate if euphonious- sounding name
the citizens had bestowed on the wide
awake hamlet inasmuch as there was not
bush bearing the delicious Ethiopian fruit
within mile of its precincts.
Not one of the girls had Miss Bentley
ever seen. She had never visited them, and
they had never been asked to her county
home before. What were they like? Were
they fashionably dressed, automatic-like
creatures of society, with frivolous tastes
and idle ways? Or were they gifted with
cOmmon-sense, and given to industry, as
the prospective wife of Guy Winters ought
to be?
As she pondered the question somewhat
anxiously in her mind the stage drew up in
front of the gate. Two ladies in plain trav-
cling suite alighted, and Miss Bentley ad-
vanced to meet them just as John jumped
off his elevated seat and grumblingly lifted
the heavy Saratoga" to the ground.
"Big enough to hold the choir of Black
berryville church," he snarled, as he car
ried it with the assistance of Miss Bentley's
man-of-all-work into the house.
Miss Bentley, too, eyed it with disfavor.
For few days sojourn in the country,
where the women are not serfs to fashion,
it certainly did present a'rather formidable
|
only held out her hand to the two girls,
and murmured a few words of welcome.
''Sueh delightful place, auntV' gush-
ingly cried the elder and taller of the two
girls, as she lifted her veil from the face
which the woman had not ventured to kiss
l-'a perfect bJou. Look, Celia! The fields
are as green as an emerald, and that sheet
of water below, with the sun warming it
up, is like a magnificent sapphire! It must
be pond. / wonder if the fragrant water
lily grows on its bosom. 1t was so good of
you to send for u.s. aunt. We shall be per-
fectly happy here.'
81 hope so, truly" said Miss Bentley,
rather dryly, to whom the voice sounded a
bit insincere. at is awfully lonesome here
for girls who have been bred in the city.
No parties, no beaux, no"
She could get no farther in her sentence.
The girl called Celia threw up her hands
and gave an effective little shrek. ''Don't,
aantie, beg! We have been surfeited with
parties, and received SO much homage from
braipless young fops that 1 never want to
see another specimen of the genus homo
Men, unless they have brains, are bores.
0 my! what lovely flowers at the window
| What do you call them auntie?''
| "Lilacs," curtley replied the spinster.
"You ought to know. You lived in the
| country till you were ten years old, and no
yard is without them. Don't pretend TO
| be ignorant of the names of things growing
| in the country, Celia. 1t shows lack of
common-sense, which you admire SO much
| in the opposite sex. But come; you must
be tired. Let me conduct you to your
room. You'll have time to rest little be-
fore tea. Your Cousin Lucy will be here
| shortly
"Indeed!" calculated Rachel, with the
least perceptible curl of the lip. ''You
mean our country cousin, suppose? have
never seen her,"
''And was not aware that you expected
her aunt" said Celia. SIS she dowdy?
Most country giry are. beg your par
don," as Aunt Mehitable's eyes flashed
the wilderness, as Lucy has been. They
| say her home is encompassed by woods.
Oh-hp' prolonging the exclamation to it's
utmost, as, after toilipg up single flight
of stairs, they were ushered intoa dainty
apartment, and left alone; | am so tired
And what a homely, old fashioned room
this is. Goodness! What high posted
bedstead this is. How'll we ever get into
it tonight? And look at those scraggy
green leaves in the vase where flowers
should be. I'm sure they're alive with
worms. Pm tempted to toss them out.
Mercy! how will we ever manage to exist
here? If aunt wasn't so rich, and | afraid
she'd leave me out of her will, I'd start for
home in the morning."
| Rachel complacently made answer: "I' m
satisfied with the prospect. It's horrid
old place, and aunt is a penurious old thing,
else she wouldn't stay here with all the
money she's got. Ihave an object in view,
| "a i a., l..11- c,PD IL.
vile fora while. Have you forgotten? Aunt
intimated to us that the one who was so
fortunate as to win the affections of Guy
Winters, son of the man she was engaged
to marry, but for some unaccountable rea-
son did not, should have her property.
Now happen to know that this Guy Win
ters is worth winning. I've seen his pho
tograpb, and I've heard Eta Bayne speak
of him. He is as handsome as that mytho-
logical parsonage Apollo was said to be-
is q rising young lawyer in Buffalo-and
mean to marry him. Don't sneer. l am
prettier than you, and have more tact
You are lamentably wanting in it, Celia,
as you must acknowledge. But bark! 1
hear wheels. 1t must be Guy Winters or
Lucy. | wonder how she looks? I've
nothing to fear, though, from country
girl. They're invariably awkward and
yes, IL must De Lucy, as the driver reIned
in his steed before the gate, and wee fig
ure got out and stood there as tiny trunk
was deposited on the ground. 81 can't
catch a glimpse of her face, but she is short,
aud short women are never graceful, and
not enough pretty things could be packed
in that dolls trunk to captivate any man."
Meanwhile Lucy Hunt had met her aunt
with an affectionate kiss and hug, and fol-
lowed her to the room made ready for her.
A 1.-THE, wilowy figure, a dark, sparkling
face, winning smile, and a vivacous man
ner.
Mehitable Bentley heart went out to her
sisters child at once. How much she re-
sembled Maggie! The tears came into her
eyes as she left the room and went down
stairs to prepare something nice and pala-
table for supper.
Thus domiciled, Lucy glanced oarelessly
about the room. How pretty it was! how
y l.. Il